Pittsburgh Food & Flavors

Cookbooks

Farley, Marta Pisetska
Festive Ukrainian Cooking
Although not written by a Pittsburgher, this book is published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Larry Ciptak provides additional information on Ukranian Emigration to Pittsburgh.

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Food Articles

• Family's traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes celebrates Christmas Eve vigil
  An article from the Monday, December 19, 2005, issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Virginia Phillips about the Italian traditional meatless Christmas Eve meal of seven fishes.
• "Christmas Eve feast of the fishes"
  A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article from Monday, December 20, 1999 describing the Italian tradition that is still observed by many Italian-American families in Pittsburgh.
• "Dining Through the Decades"
  100 years of Pittsburgh Food! Check out this piece of Pittsburgh memorabilia in today's Post Gazette! See how much YOU can remember... An article by Woodene Merriman from December 17, 1999.
• "Duquesne Hungarian church carries on kolbasz tradition"
  A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette November 22, 1999 article telling about the annual kielbasa sale at the Hungarian Reformed Church of Duquesne.
• "Food historian shows how immigrant recipes have survived, and served, America"
  An article from the Thursday, July 22, 2004 issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Diana Nelson Jones talks about Donna Gabaccia, Food Historian and Mellon Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh, and immigrant food in Pittsburgh.
• "A Hot Dog Program"
  Looking for a good hot dog stand in Pittsburgh? Our favorite documentary filmaker, Rick Sebak, takes a tour across America. There's also an article in the May 1999 Pittsburgh Magazine especially about places in Pittsburgh.
• Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor
  Read this Post-Gazette article from June 24, 1999, about the rebirth of a Strip District landmark.
• The Primanti's tradition
  A December 19, 2002 article from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review by Kelly Bradish about the most famous sandwich in Pittsburgh: the one with coleslaw and french fries inside.
• "Sandwiches that you will like"
  This is the companion website for the national TV program produced by WQED and Rick Sebak. Includes the Pittsburgh extra: top 10 list of Pittsburgh sandwiches.
• Take a bite out of Kennywood
  A June 20, 1999 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about the food thrills that compete with the roller coasters at the Pittsburgh amusement park. Like the 1 pound servings of french fries with gravy, melted cheese, barbecue sauce, etc at the Potato Patch.

Regional Specialties

• Banana Split
  What? You didn't know this confection was invented in a Latrobe drugstore in 1904? Of course this is disputed by the folks in Wilmington, Ohio, who hold a Banana Split Festival each year.
• Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tours
  Take a tour of the Strip District, a fantastic food destination.
• Cabbage Rolls (Golabki)
  Very humble but very much loved (even revered) here in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette includes a recipe for one in Ethnic lunch to fuel South Side house tour.
• Fresh Italian Sausages With Peppers
  A recipe for this Pittsburgh Italian favorite is include in this Post-Gazette article from Feb. 24, 2002 about Uncle Charley's sausages.
• Halusky
  Noodles and cabbage. An Eastern European side dish that is so popular here they sell it at marching band competitions. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's version.
• Isaly's
  Makers of Ice Cream (Klondikes) and Chipped Chopped Ham, Isaly's website includes their recipe for ham barbecue.
• Italian Wedding Soup: a delicious link with tradition
  An article and recipe from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, January 13, 2000, for Italian Wedding Soup, a standard at Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh.
• Kielbasa
  How to make your very own Polish sausage from the Global Gourmet Poland section.
• Kielbasa in Recipes
  Since most of us buy our kielbasa, here are some sophisticated ways to serve it from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines.
• Mrs. Fedur's Homemade Noodles
  A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article from August 12, 1999 based on a recipe from the Free Hungarian Reform Church of McKeesport.
• Mystery Sandwich
  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published this recipe that Jane and Michael Stern came up with for Joe Chiodo's Mystery Sandwich (hamburger, kielbasa, ham and sauerkraut on an italian loaf).
• Nut Rolls (or Potica)
  You can make them at home from this Slovenian recipe in the Post-Gazette (Thursday, April 08, 2004) or order them from Bubba.
• Philly Cheesesteak with Pepper and Onions
  Oh, my. A recipe from the east. But popular in Pittsburgh, none the less.
• Pierogi Passion defies all ethnic lines
  A Thursday, October 04, 2001, article by Rafal Geremek in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Pierogies Plus
  These pierogies are prepared in the Polish tradition by eastern Europeans. If you want more authentic pierogies, you'll have to fly to Warsaw or Krakow. They now have an online store where you can even buy DVDs on making your own pierogies and cabbage rolls!
• Pittsburgh Salad
  This is a tossed green salad, topped with grated provolone cheese, french fries and either grilled chicken or steak. The Union Grill on Craig Street in Oakland can show you how it's done. And if you are worried about the French Fries, you can try this recipe using rutabagas instead. If you do a search for "Pittsburgh Salad" on epicurious, this is what you get: We are unable to find an exact match for: pittsburgh salad...
• Primanti Brothers Sandwich
  Yes! This is the one with the french fries and cole slaw piled on top. Makes for a quick night snack in the Strip District when you're loading up produce at 3 am... In 2007, they were awarded an America's Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation.
• Tuna Melt
  The Tribune Riview says Eat'n Parks serve thousands of them during Lent and they are easy enough for a kid to make: put a scoop of tuna on toast, top with cheese and melt in the toaster oven. The link above is to a classic tuna melt recipe from Starkist.

• Vareniki
  A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recipe from Out of this Kitchen